Savage and the Steelers agreed on a one-year contract Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Savage will head to Pittsburgh after combining to record 18 total tackles (10 solo), a pass defensed and a forced fumble over 12 regular-season games with the Jaguars, Commanders and Bills in 2025. The 28-year-old will provide the Steelers with an experienced reserve option at safety behind DeShon Elliott (knee) and Jalen Ramsey in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Bears' Cam Lewis: Bolstering Chicago's secondary
Rotowire
Lewis is set to sign a two-year deal with the Bears, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.
Lewis is heading to Chicago after serving as a reliable backup for the Bills over his first six seasons. The defensive back played in all 17 regular-season games (four starts) for Buffalo in 2025, accumulating 43 tackles (33 solo), four passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. Lewis has experience at slot cornerback, outside cornerback and safety. The 28-year-old's versatility should serve Chicago's secondary well in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Raiders' Taron Johnson: Dealt to Las Vegas
Rotowire
The Bills traded Johnson and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Raiders in return for a 2026 sixth-round pick Sunday, Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post reports.
Johnson was slated to be released by Buffalo ahead of the new league year, but the team was able to find a last-minute trade partner. The cornerback is coming off a 2025 campaign during which he compiled 57 total tackles (34 solo) and four passes defensed over 13 regular-season contests. Johnson now will compete for a starting role in the secondary with Las Vegas in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Dane Jackson: Cut by Buffalo
Rotowire
The Bills released Jackson on Friday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Jackson appeared in just three regular-season games for the Bills in 2025 while serving mostly on special teams. The 2020 seventh-rounder will look to join a team in need of a depth piece in the secondary who can also contribute on special teams.
... See More... See Less
Taylor Rapp: Let go by Buffalo
Rotowire
The Bills released Rapp (knee) on Friday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Rapp ended the 2025 regular season on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury in late October that was severe enough for him to undergo surgery for. A recovery timeline for the 2019 second-rounder isn't clear, but he was a full-time starter for the Bills' defense since the 2024 season, so he should garner interest from teams looking for a veteran piece to their secondary.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Taron Johnson: Bills set to part ways
Rotowire
The Bills are slated to release Johnson, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Johnson, who the Bills took in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, is coming off a 2025 season in which he recorded 57 tackles in 13 regular-season games (including eight starts). The 29-year-old slot cornerback should have little problem catching on elsewhere in free agency.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Phidarian Mathis: Re-signs with Buffalo
Rotowire
The Bills re-signed Mathis to a one-year contract Monday.
Mathis spent most of the 2025 season on the Bills' practice squad but did appear in six regular-season contests, logging 13 tackles (four solo) across 120 defensive snaps. He'll compete for a job on Buffalo's defensive line this summer.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Michael Hoecht: Expects to be ready by start of season
Rotowire
Hoecht (Achilles) said Friday that he anticipates being ready to play by the beginning of the 2026 season, Ryan Talbot of syracuse.com reports. "Yeah, that's very much my expectation, I think it's everybody else's expectations," Hoecht said.
Hoecht was suspended for the first six weeks of last season but was impactful upon his return to action, posting 2.0 sacks in two contests. However, he tore his Achilles against Kansas City in Week 9 and missed the remainder of the campaign. Hoecht mentioned Friday that he plans to be finished with his rehab from the injury July 1 -- if that's the case, he could be cleared to participate from the beginning of training camp, which starts July 23. Of course, Buffalo's training staff will have the ultimate say in when Hoecht is good to go and how rapidly he'll be allowed to ramp up. With that said, it appears the veteran defensive end's arrow is pointing up ahead of what will be his second year of the three-year contract he signed with the Bills last March.
... See More... See Less
Bills' DaQuan Jones: Notches 3.0 sacks in 2025
Rotowire
Jones recorded 22 total tackles (11 solo), including 3.0 sacks, two passes defensed, including one interception, and one forced fumble across 12 regular-season games in 2025.
The 34-year-old from Penn State was the Bills' most productive interior pass rusher this season, tallying his highest sack total since his 2017 campaign with the Titans. Additionally, Jones nabbed the first interception of his career in the Week 16 win over the Browns. Set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, the veteran will likely find work elsewhere ahead of the 2026 season following the emergence of 2025 fourth-round pick Deone Walker, who operated as the Bills' top interior defensive lineman for most of this season.
... See More... See Less
Bills' A.J. Epenesa: Smaller defensive role in 2025
Rotowire
Epenesa tallied 32 total tackles (17 solo), including 2.5 sacks, and four passes defensed, including two interceptions, over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
The Iowa product saw declines in several statistical categories compared to last season, recording fewer total tackles (39 to 32), sacks (6.0 to 2.5) and forced fumbles (two to zero) while playing significantly less defensive snaps (583 to 434). Despite the reduced workload, he remained an effective rotational edge defender and tied his career high in interceptions. Set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason, Epenesa will likely explore other opportunities after his role dimished in 2025. He could draw interest from teams in need of a starting-caliber edge rusher ahead of the 2026 season.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Deone Walker: Solid rookie campaign in Buffalo
Rotowire
Walker logged 39 total tackles (17 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and four passes defensed across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
The 2025 fourth-round pick from Kentucky was thrust into action immediately, starting 16 regular-season contests during his rookie campaign. Walker was the Bills' most productive interior defensive lineman, finishing second on the team in tackles for loss (eight) and tying for fourth in passes defensed. The 21-year-old showed up when it mattered most during Buffalo's two playoff games, recording six total tackles and two passes defensed, including an interception of Bo Nix during the divisional-round loss. Walker is expected to remain an integral portion of the Bills' defensive front for years to come.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Greg Rousseau: Stays productive in 2025
Rotowire
Rousseau recorded 46 total tackles (24 solo), including 7.0 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble over 16 regular-season contests in 2025.
The 2021 first-round pick from Miami has emerged as Buffalo's best pass rusher, leading the team in sacks each of the past two seasons. Since entering the league, Rousseau has recorded 7.0-or-more sacks in three of his five campaigns, proving to be one of the league's most consistent pass rushers. Additionally, he wreaked havoc during Buffalo's two playoff games, recording eight total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and two passes defensed. Under contract through the 2029 season, Rousseau is expected to remain the Bills' top edge rusher in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Dorian Williams: Production dips in 2025
Rotowire
Williams (neck) recorded 63 total tackles (29 solo) and two passes defensed over 16 regular-season appearances in 2025.
Williams was one of the Bills' best defenders in 2024, recording 117 total tackles across 618 defensive snaps. However, he played a smaller defensive role this season, logging just 63 stops over 431 defensive snaps in the regular season. Despite this, the Tulane product remained a key part of Buffalo's defense, as he tallied the fifth-most stops on the team and was an important special-teams contributor (258 snaps). Still on his rookie contract through the 2026 season, Williams, who left the Bills' divisional-round loss to the Broncos with a neck injury, could compete for a starting inside linebacker position this summer.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Terrel Bernard: Output declines in 2025
Rotowire
Bernard (calf) tallied 65 total tackles (44 solo) and three passes defensed, including one interception, over 12 regular-season contests in 2025.
Bernard has seen vast declines across several statistical categories over the last two seasons, recording fewer total tackles (143 to 65), sacks (6.5 to zero), passes defensed (five to three) and interceptions (three to one) compared to his 2023 campaign. However, his 2025 season was cut short by injuries, as he missed five regular-season contests and both of the Bills' playoff games. Bernard was one of Buffalo's best tacklers when healthy, recording the fourth-most stops on the team. Under contract through 2029, the Baylor product is expected to remain one of the Bills' top inside linebackers in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Jordan Poyer: Continues to produce in Buffalo
Rotowire
Poyer (hamstring) logged 70 total tackles (31 solo), including 0.5 sacks, and three passes defensed, including one interception, across 10 regular-season games in 2025.
The 34-year-old safety from Oregon State began the season on Buffalo's practice squad, but a season-ending injury to Taylor Rapp (knee) allowed Poyer to play a larger defensive role. After returning to the starting lineup in the Week 8 matchup against the Panthers, Poyer emerged as one of the Bills' top tacklers, finishing with the second-most stops on the team. Set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, he could return to Buffalo as a reliable depth option if injuries impact the secondary again in 2026. Poyer played in the Bills' first playoff game against the Jaguars, but he suffered a hamstring injury in that game and was unable to play in the divisional round.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Cam Lewis: Returns vs. Denver
Rotowire
Lewis (undisclosed has returned to Buffalo's divisional-round matchup versus the Broncos on Saturday, Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.
Lewis is back in action after briefly exiting the game at the end of the first half due to cramping. Darnell Savage filled in at safety while Lewis was sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Cam Lewis: Questionable to return
Rotowire
Lewis (cramps) is questionable to return Buffalo's divisional-round matchup versus the Broncos on Saturday.
Lewis is currently dealing with cramping, which caused him to exit the game late in the first half. Darnell Savage will replace Lewis at safety if he ends up being unable to return.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Ed Oliver: Good to go Saturday
Rotowire
Oliver (biceps/knee) is active for Buffalo's divisional-round matchup versus the Broncos on Saturday, Alec White of the team's official site reports.
Oliver is officially set to make his return to the field after having been activated off injured reserve Friday. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since tearing his biceps during the Week 8 win over the Panthers back in October and should resume his role as one of the team's starting defensive tackles against Denver.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Terrel Bernard: Ruled out vs. Denver
Rotowire
Bernard (calf) is inactive for Buffalo's divisional-round matchup versus the Broncos on Saturday, Alec White of the team's official site reports.
Bernard managed to be a limited participant in practice throughout the week but will nonetheless be sidelined for a third consecutive game. In his absence, Dorian Williams and Joe Andreessen could see increased playing time, while Bernard will look to return next week during the AFC Championship Game should the Bills defeat Denver.
... See More... See Less
Bills' Damar Hamlin: Remains on IR
Rotowire
Hamlin (pectoral) wasn't activated from injured reserve Friday, ruling him out for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Broncos.
Hamlin was designated for return from injured reserve nine days ago and logged a trio of full practices this week. However, it wasn't enough for the Bills to activate him ahead of Saturday's playoff contest. With Jordan Poyer (hamstring) ruled out against Denver, the Bills will be down to Cole Bishop, Sam Franklin, Jordan Hancock, Cam Lewis and Darnell Savage as options at safety.
